Philipp Grubauer, Seattle Kraken.
The Seattle Kraken not only made the playoffs in their second year of existence; they won their first-ever playoff game!
To begin the 2022-23 season, almost every major media outlet and analyst suggested the Kraken wouldn’t be a playoff team. That negativity provided some needed fuel to spark the flame in Seattle’s locker room.
Not only did the Kraken make the playoffs, but they also set an NHL record for the largest improvement in the standings from year one to year two. They won 46 games en route to a 100-point season, besting last year’s total by a whopping 40 points.
The regular season success resulted in the Kraken locking up the seventh seed in the Western Conference and a matchup against the defending Stanley Cup Champions – the Colorado Avalanche. Again, all the major analysts suggested that Seattle was in over their heads. They won’t stand a chance against the juggernaut offense of Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen, and defensive superstar Cale Makar.
On Tuesday night, Seattle put the NHL on notice with a 3-1 win over Colorado. They outshot their hosts, played an aggressive, hard-hitting style, and did a great job of shutting down the opposing top line.
Some might think the victory was beginner’s luck and Colorado will bounce back. Not so fast; the Seattle Kraken have the tools to pull off the biggest upset this season. This is the four-point plan they need to follow to win the series.
Tuesday night, the Seattle Kraken had 23 blocked shots from both forwards and defense, along with 4 takeaways (Colorado had only 1 all game). Twelve of Seattle’s 18 skaters registered at least 1 blocked shot. (Adam Larsson lead the way with 4).
Getting in the way of shots makes things much easier for the goaltender to do his job, and sacrificing the body is a key part of playoff success. Speaking of sacrificing the body, Seattle also registered 40 hits compared to Colorado’s 29.
This type of physicality will wear down an opponent over a 60-minute game. In a 7-game series, being on the receiving end of all those hits will take its toll.
A team can sport an amazing offense, but it is their goaltending that can make the difference between winning and losing a game (ask the Toronto Maple Leafs about the importance of goaltending). Philipp Grubauer led the way in Game 1 with 34 saves on 35 shots, securing the game’s 2nd star.
Grubauer made several key saves against his former team and had exceptional rebound control. Limiting rebounds allowed the Seattle Kraken defense to regain puck position faster.
Continuing to build on this fundamental play is key, as Colorado will likely kick the pressure up a notch next for Game 2.
During the regular season, Seattle was tied for 3rd in the league for the most goals scored. They had six players that scored 20 goals or more and 13 that scored 10 or more.
Their depth proved influential in Game 1, as the three goal scorers were from the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th lines. If the 1st line plays defensive shutdown against MacKinnon and Rantanen (both of whom scored 100+ points this season), the depth scorers can capitalize on their ice time.
The Seattle Kraken showed the league all year that they don’t need to rely on one or two superstars to win games. Instead, they put four high-quality lines on the ice. It lets Head Coach Dave Hakstol to better evenly distribute ice time, preventing player fatigue.
Just because the Seattle Kraken doesn’t have a player that dons the “C” on their sweater doesn’t mean they lack leadership – especially come playoff time. The roster contains players who have won the Stanley Cup in each of the last seven seasons. (Andre Burakovsky – 2018, 2022; Yanni Gourde – 2020, 2021; Philipp Grubauer – 2018; Jaden Schwartz – 2019; Vince Dunn – 2019; Justin Schultz – 2016, 2017).
Their experience is an invaluable and intangible element toward team success. Usually, this is the type of success teams tend to look to acquire at the deadline. Seattle has fortunately had this experience in the locker room all year long, enabling the team to continue gaining chemistry.
There is plenty for Seatt Kraken fans to be excited about. They put the entire league on notice by winning their first-ever playoff game.
Now the question is, “Can they keep this style of play up long term?” Only time will tell. It starts with Thursday night’s Game 2.
One thing is certain: The Seattle Kraken mean business, and the league can’t take them for granted. To the rest of the NHL, don’t sleep on the Kraken; they are coming for you!